Soccer Insider: February 3, 2008 - February 9, 2008

FK Haugesund of the Norwegian Second Division has paid FC Dallas/MLS a transfer fee of close to $100,000 for Chris Gbandi, the 29-year-old left back and former No. 1 overall draft choice, according to one source. Norwegian media is reporting the figure is closer to $75,000, but I've been assured...

[updated with details, clarifications] After weeks of contract and trade negotiations, the Christian Gomez deal that sends his rights from DCU to Colorado is now official. As we reported, United received the Rapids' first-round draft pick in 2009 as well as future considerations. What are those considerations? The latest I've...

A late goal by Costa Rican Cristian BolaÃ±os led Danish club Odense to a 1-0 victory over DCU in a scrimmage in Bradenton. United started Wells in goal, McTavish, Martinez, Peralta and Burch on the backline, Moose on the right flank, Fred on the left, Simms behind Gallardo, and Moreno...

Okay, so it's almost afternoon. Late-night drive home requires later-than-usual blogging. *D.C. United is playing Odense of Denmark in a scrimmage in Bradenton today. Bryan Namoff is sitting out with toe ailments and was replaced in the lineup at right back by Devon McTavish. Luciano Emilio is starting up top...

Greetings from Philladelphia, home of MLS's next club. (Well, we'll see about that.) After departing Houston, I've come here for a college basketball game -- not that you care. I did have the opportunity to drive through the heart of Chester, proposed site for Philly's soccer stadium. Always a thrill....

Christian Gomez, 2006 MLS most valuable player who couldn't reach terms with United, has finalized a deal with Colorado and will sign a contract with the Rapids today, the Insider learned this morning. The agreement will allow DCU to trade his MLS rights to Colorado, which sources say offered Gomez...

From USSF Prez Sunil Gulati..... *The March 26 friendly at Poland is set. The June 4 match at Spain is set. There is a good chance the USA will play a "top five team" on or around June 8 in the northeast U.S. The current top five in the FIFA...

Greetings from Estadio Reliant. Make no mistake: This match and the crowd will definitely have a Spanish accent. A few things you should know: *The retractable roof is closed. It is a gorgeous day, but apparently the cool weather that blew in overnight and will stay with us this evening...

USA-Mexico 9 p.m. ET ESPN2, Univision About 70,000 at Reliant Stadium Just a friendly, but..... So what do you think will transpire? I'm going with a 1-1 tie. Michael Bradley scores off a corner kick, Giovani Dos Santos equalizes....

A few of 'em, anyway. Before we get to the comments, the only injury we know of is midfielder Brad Davis, who tweaked his groin muscle yesterday and tested it today. Our guess is that he will be among the four scratches, which will not be made public until tomorrow....

United and Toronto played to a 1-1 tie in a 60-minute scrimmage in Bradenton, Fla., today. Dominic Mediate scored in the first half, Danny Dichio in the second half. United used mostly reserves before halftime, mostly starters afterward. Luciano Emilio did not play, but Fred did. Zach Wells, who just...

Some highlights from Bob Bradley's news conference at Reliant Stadium before today's closed training session..... *On a future friendly between the teams in Mexico: "I know there have been discussions about playing a friendly match in Mexico. I would assume that, as we go forward, those discussions will continue and...

Jerry lives! Before I head to the airport for a flight to Houston, a few topics to discuss: *Chivas USA has already signed Swiss World Cup midfielder Raphael Wicky. Is the club now about to lure Paraguayan legend Jose Cardozo, who will turn 37 next month, out of retirement? *Are...

Insider loyalists knew about it weeks ago. Today it was made official. The U.S. national team will play its 2010 World Cup qualifying opener at Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The opponent will be Barbados or Dominica. As we reported, kickoff is 2 p.m. Pacific time, with TV coverage...

While Super Bowl fever gripped America (and little else of the planet), CONCACAF World Cup qualifying commenced yesterday with Bermuda settling for a 1-1 tie at home against the Cayman Islands. Several other first-round series will begin this week. Read about the Revs' Khano Smith, who is recuperating from surgery...

While we enjoy the late stages of the Africa Cup of Nations and watch Ghana attempt to win the championship at home, let's keep this in mind: Junior Agogo, whose second goal of the tournament gave the undermanned Black Stars a 2-1 victory over Nigeria yesterday, played exactly 57 minutes...

From a well-placed contact, the latest on the negotiations between Christian Gomez and the Colorado Rapids is that there is one last, minor hurdle to overcome but it should be cleared up by Monday at the latest. As we reported a few days ago, the contract would be guaranteed for...